Goggle set



W. L. BIGELOVV GOGGLE SET Filed June 29', 1957 y' [W A TTORNEYS llt all

, Patented Aug. 16, 1938 omTEo sTATEs PATENT ori-lcs 'i Claims.

"lhia invention relates to a lgoggle set and la particularly concerned with that type ol eye protector used by Welders and other craftsmen whose eyes. during work, are subjected to the danger oi dying sparire, fragments of metal, alare, and the like.

an obiect oi the invention la to provide a yoaaie eet or this kind which is completely ad instable to dt both the eyes and the head et the individual user.

l,i'irrother object le to provide auch a device in which the eye pieceo or goggles proper may be shiited with one hand irom an operative to an inoperative position without in any way adoctlna the preadjusted condition of the goggles ao that the iatter.when they are returned to operative position, againassume their proper tted relationship.

another lobject is to provide a goggle set in which the eye pieces. in the inoperative position, project upwardly to a minimum extent and are disposed in close adiacency to the iront portion ol the users head.

Another object is to provide aoggles ol this hind which are positively, but resiliently, held in both their operative and. inoperative positions. means being likewise provided lor precluding loose movement of the eye pieces at any time.

another :object is to provide goggles which may be worn comfortably over and without interterence with regular eye glasses or spectacles.

hnother object is to provide a goggle set ci the lrind described which is simple and emcient both in manufacture and in use.

IThese and other objects are attained bythe means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the goggle set oi this invention, with eye pieces disposed in operative position.

fli'ig. 2 is a front elevational view of the device as seen in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, but with the eye pieces disposed in their inoperative position, parts being omitted and parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2, with parts broken away.

lFig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 5 5 o! Fig. 4. y

Fig. 6 is a top pian view of the head frame forming part of the present invention, the eye pieces and the structural details immediately associated therewith being omitted. v

With reference to the drawing, the goggles oi.' this,invention are adapted to be mounted on a roi. a-ia traine which is placed upon and adjusted to the head oi the user. According to the present invention. this frame comprises an arcuate bottom strip iu, preferably formed oi' light metal and adapted to embrace the forehead and to entend alena the iront sides of the wearers head. The ends oi the strip It extend to about the middle oi' the head, and have attached at their ends a pair oi arcuate arms il and it which project towards one another and which are adapted to be connected, adjacent their ends, with an arcuate iront strip it. the lower end ol which is connected with the mid-portion oi the bottom strip lu. The upper ends ol all oi this three members il, li, and li are provided with a series oi' periorations it. and a suitable threaded holt 4It is adapted to be inserted through three superimposed periorations of the three members il, il, and ii aiter the head frame has been properly adjusted to the individual users heed.

Thereafter a wing nut it is tightened upon the boit ih ior holding the trarne in adjusted position.v The ends ol' the bottom strip Vi t have liliewise connected therewith strap means il, the outer ends of which may be adiustably connected by a buolrle it, or the like, in accordance with the needs oi' the user. -lt wiilbe seen in Fia. o that the strap means il may be continued around the inner face of the hottom strip It), as at li, ior contacting the head oi the wearer.

The goggles oi this invention are adapted to be mounted upon the front strip it of the head frame. Ii'or this purpose, the iront of the bottom strip Il! has connected therewith a bearing strip 2li formed with ap air of forwardly projecting lugs 2i. l.its seen in Figs. l and 6, the strip 2li may be secured, between the bottom strip m and the front strip i8 oi the head frame, all three parte being secured together by identical fastening means, such as rivets or by spot welding.

A bracket 22, formed with a pair of spaced arms 2B, is pivotally mounted between the lugs 2i. For this purpose, the upper ends of the bracket may be provided with a cross-piece 23 formed with a longitudinal bore. A shaft 24 extends through this bore and likewise through the lugs 2i for hingedly mounting the bracket. The arms 28 of the bracket 22 are formed at their outer ends to provide the angularly disposed portions 25 tor a purpose to be described. The extreme ends o! said portions 2B are connected by a bearing 21 in which the goggles are pivotally mounted.

Through the bearing 21, a rotatable tubular member 28 extends, the ends of the tubular member extending beyond the ends of the bearing, as indicated at 29, these projecting portions being exteriorly threaded. The tubular member 28 is retained in position within the bearing 21 by the means illustrated most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. The said bearing is formed with a transverse slot 38 at the mid-portion of the front of the bearing. This slot may extend from substantially the top of the bearing to a distance slightly beyond the mid-point of the bottom side thereof. A set screw 3| projects through the slot 38 and is threadedly received in the tubular member 28, said screw extending outwardly beyond the surface of the bearing 30, whereby lateral displacement of the tubular member 28 is precluded and rotational movement thereof limited.

A pair of shafts 32 and 33 extends into the opposite ends of the tubular member 28, as seen in Fig. 4. These shafts are rotatable within the tubular member but are normally precluded from movement therein by virtue of a pair of packing nuts 34 embracing the shafts 32 and 33 and threadedly advanced upon the threaded ends of the tubular member 28 until the packing 35 in said nuts precludes rotational movement of the shafts within the tubular member.

The outer end portions of the shafts 32 and 33 are formed to extend rearwardly, as at 36, and downwardly, as at 31. the latter sections providing supports for the eye pieces 38 and 33. The vertical sections 31 are threaded and project through the tops of the eye pieces 38 and 39, a pair of nuts 48 and 4| being disposed on said sections 31 on opposite surfaces of the eye pieces and being tightened thereagainst for holding the goggles in the selected adjustment on their vertical axes.

Further details of the manipulation and adjustment of the goggles will be set forth below, but it will be obvious thus far that the bracket 22 may be swung down to the operative position seen in Fig. 1 and upwardly to the inoperative position seen in Fig. 3, and that the goggles, by virtue of their pivotal connection with the bearing 21, are adapted to be disposed in depending relationship in both'positions. For holding the bracket and goggles in their given position, the present invention provides for the use of an arcuate spring 42, the upper end of which is secured, as at 43, to the face of the front strip I3 above the bracket 22 and its mounting. The spring 42 extends downwardly over said bracket and bears resiliently against a cross-bar provided intermediate of the ends of the bracket and preferably taking the form of a roller 44.

A smaller arcuate spring 48 (Fig. 5) may be nxed, as at 48, to the rear part of the bearing 21,

the spring extending about the major portion of the slot 38 in spaced relation therewith. This spring exerts resilient -pressure against the outer end of the set screw 3| and precludes loose swinging movement of the goggles when the latter are disposed in their upper or inoperative position.

The use and operation of the invention may be further detailed as follows: 'I'he first step is, of course, to adjust the head frame to the size of the users head so that the frame fits fairly snugly. After the frame has been placed on the head and the buckle I8 secured, the goggles are swung to their downwardly extending position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. If the eye pieces 38 and 39 are too far apart or too close together for the individuals needs, the packing nuts 34 are loosened until the shafts 32 and 33 can be pushed in or pulled out, as the case may require, and furthermore, the exact pivotal adjustment of the goggles on their horizontal axes may be effected. For example. if the goggles, in their lowered position, do not bear evenly, all around, against the wearer's face, adjacent the eyes, the shafts 32 and 33 are rotated until the proper adjustment and "fee1ing of the goggles has been attained. It may be pointed out here that in the operative position of the goggles, the set screw 3| contacts the upper extremity of the slot 30 of the bearing 21 for limiting further pivotal movement of the goggles in this direction. The horizontal pivotal adjustment of the eye pieces 38 and 39 described above is made with the set screw in the contacting position mentioned. It may be that the eye pieces require a still further adjustment if it should happen that either one of them, or both, should project slightly below or above their most convenient or comfortable positions. If such is the case, the nuts, at 40 and 4| on the vertical sections 31 of the shafts 32 and 33, are loosened and either advanced or retracted for respectively raising or lowering the eye pieces. In addition, at this time, the exact pivotal adjustment of the eye pieces on their vertical axes may be effected. After such additional adjustments, the nuts 40 and 4| are again tightened against the top portions of the eye pieces and the latter are now in proper condition for comfortable and eflicient use. As will be noted in Fig. 2, a suitable. flexible shield extends between the eye pieces 38 so as to limit the entry of light under the eye pieces at the inner edges thereof.

. When it is desired to raise the goggles from the eyes, the unit comprising the eye pieces and the bracket 22 is simply swung arcuately upward until the bracket lies against the front strip l0. The eye pieces themselves, during such action, are not turned but rather are shifted as a whole, the bearing 21 rotating about the tubular member 28. At this time, also, the roller 44 on the bracket 22 rides upwardly against the inner face of the arcuate spring 42 and is resiliently pressed by said spring against the front strip i3 of the head f frame. 'I'he smaller arcuate spring 45, bearing against the outer end of the set screw 3|-, precludes loose swinging movement of the goggles in their raised position so that they do not hinge forwardly when the user bends his head, whereby inconvenience to the user and possible injury to the goggles are obviated.

The angular disposition of the outer end portions 25 of the bracket 22 is peculiarly effective for achieving a proper operative relationship of the goggles with the eyes of the user, and likewise, with the bracket assembly, resulting in a compactly disposed unit in the raised inoperative position of the device, as seen in Fig. 3.

As already suggested, the goggles may be raised from operative position, or returned thereto, with one hand of the wearer. This is a marked advantage since such manipulation of the goggles is frequently necessary while a workman is holding a tool, such as a welding device, in one hand. Moreover, the manipulation of the goggles does not in any way modify the preadjusted relationships of the various parts as already described, since the movement is simply a hinging or rotation of the tubular member 28 within the bearing 21. The manipulation of the goggles, it may be observed, is most conveniently done by grasping one or the other of the eye pieces and simply pushing it up, the goggles being held in sublill stantialoly a vertical position during such movement.

lt is an important'advantage of the present invention that the goggles may be worn comfortably over` regular eye glasses or spectacles. Heretoi'ore it has been necessary for Welders, grinders, and similar craftsmen obliged to Wear glasses, to have two pairs of them, one pair for use at work and one for ordinary use. The ones used at work usually must be replaced rather frequently, sometimes at the end of every few:

months, due to injury to the lenses by flying sparks, et cetera. The present invention obviates this additional trouble and expense. The goggles readily fit over the glasses and the outward arcuate movement of the goggles, when they are pushed up from the eyes, precludes displacement and injury to the glasses.

What is claimed is: l

l. A goggle set comprising a frame adapted to be positioned on a users head, a bracket having one end attached centrally of the front of the head frame for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, a pair of goggles mounted on the free end of said bracket and adapted to be swung down through an arc of greater than 90 into operative position over the eyes of the user and to be returned upwardly through an arc of greater than 90 into inoperative position adjacent the front of the head frame, and resilient means bearing against said bracket and urging it toward the users eyes when the bracket is swung down and toward the head frame when the bracket is swung up.

2.' A goggle set'comprising a frame adapted to one end attached centrally of the front of the head frame for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, a pair ofl goggles pivotaliy mounted on the `freewend of said bracket and adapted to be swung down through an arc of greater than 90 into operative position over the eyes of the user and to be returned upwardly through an arc of greater than .90 into inoperative position adjacent the front of the head frame, resilientv means bearing against said bracket and urging it toward the users eyes when the bracket is swung down and toward the head frame when the bracket is swung up, the goggles in both said positionsbeing adapted byvirtue oi' their pivotal mounting to be disposed in depending relation with the bracket, and means precluding loose pivotal movement of the goggles in their given positions.

3. A goggle set comprising a frame adapted to be positioned on a users head, a ybracket having one end attached centrally of the front of the head frame for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, a transverse bearing on the bracket. a shaft in each end of the bearing and projecting exteriorly thereof, a goggle pivotally connected with each shaft in substantially right angular relation therewith, said bracket being adapted to be swung down for disposing the goggles over the eyes of a user and to be swung up into inoperative position with the bracket and goggles disposed adiacent the front of the head frame, means for releasably holding the bracket in its given positions, said shafts being adapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly relative to said bearing and likewise to be turned o'n a longitudinal axis to achieve proper adjustment of the goggles to the users eyes, and the goggles by virtue of 'their said pivotal connections being further adapted for pivotal adjustment on a vertical axis, and means for holding the goggles in their adjusted positions.

4. vA goggle set comprising a frame adapted to be positioned on a users head, a bearing connected with the front of the frame and extending transversely relative thereto, a tubular member extending rotatably through the bearing, a pair of shafts extending rotatably into said tubular member at opposite ends thereof, a pair'of' goggles attached one each to one of the shafts and adapted to be swung down toward the users eyes into operative position and to be swung up toward the head frame into inoperative position, 'means for releasably holding the bracket and goggles in their given positions, and means for holding said shafts in selected inwardly, outwardly and rotatably adjusted relations with said tubular member whereby the goggles `may be swung to operative and inoperative positions without aiecting said adjusted relations, and means for limiting rotation or the tubular member upon movement of the goggles into operative position.

5. A goggle set comprising a frame adapted to be positioned on a users head, a horizontal bearing supported by the frame, a pair of goggles held by the bearing and adapted to be disposed in front of a users eyes, and means for shifting the goggles longitudinally of the bearing to different longitudinally adjusted positions and for maintaining them in the adjusted positions.

A goggle set comprising a frame for positioning on a users head and providing a section adapted to be disposed adjacent the forehead, a bracket having one end pivotally connected with said section, a bearing rotatably attached to the other end of said bracket and extending transversely thereof, a pair of goggles mounted on opposite ends of said bearing and adapted, by virtue of said rotatable bearing and hinged bracket, to be swung arcuately down to the users eyes and up to the head frame without turning of the goggles proper, 'and means for holding the goggles in their raised and lowered positions.

7. A goggle set comprising a frame adapted to be positioned on a users head, a bracket mounted on the' frame for hinged vertical movement, a pair of goggles mounted on the bracket and adapted to be positioned before the users eyes in depending relation with the head frame, rearwardly-projecting members on the goggles adapted to contact the users face for holding the goggles in spaced relation with the eyes, and means yieldably urging the goggles toward the users face.

WILLARD L. BIGELOW. 

